The FAA has been working on creating and now implementing a tool called Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories, or SMART.
However, airlines have been concerned about the AI tool and how it will be used.
Earlier this month, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford met with leaders of major U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, to brief them on the new technology.
According to the FAA’s website, SMART “is a cloud-based platform system that enhances existing FAA air traffic management systems. It provides air traffic control and aircraft operators with a shared, data-driven view of the National Airspace before flights depart.”
The goal of the system is the reduce delays, especially starting with the beginning of the day.
The tool was to be implemented in the Fall of 2026. Now it is being reported that the FAA will first work with airlines to look at specific flights, air routes, and the forecasted weather along those paths and see how smart SMART is in its predictions.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford is now saying that the rollout will involve a 90-day test period before it is rolled out further. And he noted that SMART will focus on where weather systems will be heading, instead of simply where they currently are.
“That is a big difference between whether we keep airspace closed too long,” Bedford said. “So how can we make more space available safely, based on better data and better decision-making tools.”
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